3 farmers remanded in prison for alleged killing

Three farmers in Gbajimba, Guma Local Government Area of Benue, were on Monday remanded in prison custody for allegedly killing a 26-year-old man, David Tsenzughul.

The accused, Desmond Tyosongo, Terlumun Utor and John Liambee, were charged before a Makurdi Magistrates’ Court with criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.

The Prosecutor, ASP Michael Lorundu, told the court that the brother of the deceased, Timothy Tsenzughul, had reported the incident at the Guma Police Station.

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Lorundu said that the complainant had told the police that the accused persons conspired and stabbed his 26-year old younger brother to death.

He said that the trio had applied anti-cutlass cut charm on the deceased and stabbed him with a knife on the chest to test the potency of the charm.

The prosecutor said that when the charm failed, resulting in the deceased sustaining a serious injury, he was rushed to the hospital where he died during treatment.

He said the farmers were arrested during the police investigation and the first accused confessed to stabbing the deceased to test the effectiveness of the anti-cutlass cut charm.

The prosecutor said the knife the suspect used was recovered from him.

He said the offence was punishable under Sections 97 and 222 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue, 2004.

When the case came up for a mention, however, the accused persons could not take pleas for lack of jurisdiction of the court over the matter.

The prosecutor informed the court that investigation into the matter was ongoing and asked for another date for the mention.

The Magistrate, Mrs Regina Ochokwunu, adjourned the matter to Jan 22, 2019, for further mention